Wolf Pack, Hawaii baseball teams set odd record that will never be broken

The Nevada and Hawaii baseball teams set a record earlier this week that no teams will ever break, although that mark could be matched one day.

On Monday night, the Wolf Pack and Rainbow Warriors sent just 52 batters to the plate, the fewest possible in a nine-inning game. Hawaii won the game 1-0, scoring a first-inning run.

Nevada sent just 27 batters to the plate against Scott Kuzminsky, who allowed just three base runners. But those three were retired on the base paths. Austin Byler walked in the first inning and was caught stealing; Jordan Devencenzi singled in the fifth and was erased on a double play; and Byler singled in the seventh before being retired on a double play.

Hawaii sent just 25 batters to the plate, one over the minimum. But since a run must score for the game to end, the fewest possible plate appearances in a game is 52 (27 for the road team and 25 for the home team), which Nevada and Hawaii was able to accomplish.

Rainbow Warriors leadoff hitter Stephen Ventimilia singled in the first inning, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout. Hawaii's only other player to reach base was Kaeo Aliviado, who singled in the seventh before being caught stealing.

The only runner to get past first base in the game was Ventimilia in the first inning.

This statistical anomaly was caught by Nevada sports information director Jack Kuestermeyer, who contacted the NCAA to see if there was previously a college baseball game with the minimum 52 batters. The NCAA did not immediately respond to his request.

Either way, Nevada and Hawaii are now in the record books for a feat that can be matched but will never be broken.